HRC Blog

Russian Parliament Advances National ‘Homosexual Propaganda’ Bill

The Russian State Duma has advanced a national “homosexual propaganda” bill that would make public events or the dissemination of information on LGBT lifestyles to minors punishable with fines up to $16,000.

The bill passed first reading in the Duma with a 388-1-1 vote and requires two more readings and President Vladimir Putin’s signature to become law.

Associated Press reports that twenty LGBT activists and militant Orthodox Christian activists were arrested during protests outside the State Duma on Friday.

Similar anti-LGBT “propaganda” bills are already in effect in St. Petersburg and elsewhere in Russia. Many equality advocates fear that the vague wording of these bills has enabled more widespread discrimination against LGBT Russians and those perceived to be LGBT.